Common Boolean Operators in Python
In Python, Boolean operators are used to perform logical operations on Boolean values (True or False). These operators are essential for creating conditional statements and making decisions in your code. The common Boolean operators in Python are:
- AND Operator (
and
): Theand
operator returnsTrue
if both operands areTrue
, andFalse
otherwise. For example:
x = 5
y = 10
print(x < 10 and y > 5) # Output: True
print(x < 5 and y > 10) # Output: False
- OR Operator (
or
): Theor
operator returnsTrue
if at least one of the operands isTrue
, andFalse
if both operands areFalse
. For example:
x = 5
y = 10
print(x < 10 or y > 15) # Output: True
print(x < 5 or y > 10) # Output: True
- NOT Operator (
not
): Thenot
operator returns the opposite of the operand's Boolean value. If the operand isTrue
, it returnsFalse
, and if the operand isFalse
, it returnsTrue
. For example:
x = 5
print(not (x < 10)) # Output: False
print(not (x > 10)) # Output: True
Here's a Mermaid diagram to visualize the truth tables for these Boolean operators:
These Boolean operators are essential for creating complex conditional statements and making decisions in your Python programs. They allow you to combine multiple conditions and create more sophisticated logic in your code.
For example, you might use the and
operator to check if a user's age is between 18 and 65, and the or
operator to check if a user's input is either "yes" or "no". The not
operator can be used to negate a condition, such as checking if a number is not equal to zero.
By understanding and properly using these Boolean operators, you can write more robust and flexible Python code that can handle a wide range of scenarios and make intelligent decisions based on the data available.